Month: June 2022

The Detroit Pistons got the chance to see what Marvin Bagley III looked like on their team during the final stretch of the 2021-22 season. The former No. 2 overall pick got the chance for a fresh start in the Motor City after things had run their course for him as a member of the Sacramento Kings, and at the conclusion of the season, the Pistons had to make a decision on how they were going to approach Bagley’s foray into restricted free agency.

While Bagley’s time in Sacramento very much grew stale, the 23-year-old forward looked comfortable alongside Cade Cunningham and co., and even though the team acquired Jalen Duren in a draft day trade and Nerlens Noel as part of New York’s quest to free up cap space, it’s not hard to see how the young big man could fit into their team.

The team decided that it’s worth keeping him around for the next few years. According to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, Bagley will stay in Detroit on a 3-year deal worth $37 million.

Bagley appeared in 18 games for the Pistons after the team acquired him, with eight of those coming in the starting lineup. He averaged 14.8 points and 6.8 rebounds on 55.5 percent shooting from the field in 27.2 minutes per game for Detroit.

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Welcome to SNX DLX, your weekly roundup of the best sneakers to hit the internet. Last week was full of silhouettes that get less frequent colorway updates which was nice and refreshing, but this week, as fire as it is… is not that. You’re not going to get a lot of random silhouettes and left-field collaborations this time, but if you’re a Jordan and Dunk fan, it’s going to be hard to find a better week all summer.

Aside from the three new Jordan I colorways we rounded up this week, we’ve also got a collaboration between Nike and Paris-label Jacquemus, as well as new Dunks, and a couple of fire New Balance drops. Yeezy fans, this isn’t your week, but be patient big things are coming. Let’s dive into this week’s eight best sneaker drops.

Jacquemus x Nike Air Humara

Fans of luxury-leaning sneakers rejoice! Nike is teaming up with the Paris-based label Jacquemus for two new colorways of the Air Humara. The Air Humara is a weird choice of a silhouette to be given the luxury treatment as the sneaker is primarily known as a rugged trail shoe, but Jacquemus managed to give it a revamp that gives it a completely different look and vibe.

The sneaker drops in two warm colorways, brown and beige, with detail workout throughout the design that manages to soften the shape of the Air Humara, giving it an elegant vibe where it is normally rugged and utilitarian. Rounding out the design is a metallic mini swoosh, branded lace tabs, and nylon straps that recall the Adidas Continental 80 (don’t tell Nike), which had an extra layer of luxuriousness to the design.

It’s hard not to fall in love with this collaboration, more Jacquemus Nikes, please!

The Jacquemus x Nike Air Humara in Beige and Brown are out now for a retail price of $170. Pick up a pair at the Jacquemus webstore.

Air Force 1 Mid Our Force 1

After three weeks straight of fire drops, I guess Nike decided to make the summer or 2022 AF-1 Mid Season, and we’re not mad about it. The mid-rise version of this silhouette is underrated, but if Nike keeps dropping colorways like this week’s Our Force 1 it won’t be long until the mid is just as ubiquitous as AF-1 Low.

The Our Force 1 feature a textured leather upper, embroidered oversized AF-1 branding on the asked strap, and a patterned tongue in two different colorways on the left and right shoe. It’s a future classic!

The Air Force 1 Mid Our Force 1 is out now for a retail price of $110. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

Nike Women’s Dunk High Denim

The Denim Dunk is the stuff of legends and now the sneaker is finally getting a smaller size, much to the whining of anyone over size 10 1/2. We won’t hold it against the big-footed whiners though, who wouldn’t want this sneaker? It’s simple, classic, and just looks like the perfect sneaker colorway for the summer.

The Dunk High Denim features a white leather upper with faded denim-inspired overlays and a habanero wraparound swoosh. If you fit in the size run, this is a must-cop.

The Nike Women’s Dunk High Denim is set to drop on June 29th for a retail price of $125. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

Air Jordan I Low Mystic Navy

It was only a week ago when I was celebrating the fact that there weren’t any Air Jordans in our weekly roundup and how I was “getting tired of seeing the same silhouettes every week in new colorways” but… I take that all back. Clearly, I’m not tired of it because I mean just look at these Mystic Navy Jordan Is!

This sneaker features a premium leather upper in black with navy accents on the toe box, heel panels, branding, and wrap-around swoosh with a matching outsole and a white midsole. Hard not to feel like this isn’t the release of the week.

The Air Jordan I Low Mystic Navy is set to drop on June 30th for a retail price of $130. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app or aftermarket sites like GOAT and Flight Club.

Nike Air Jordan 1 Bleached Coral

As if the Mystic Navy Jordan I wasn’t enough, Nike just had to go and drop this dope Bleached Coral high-top Jordan 1 this week as well. This colorway combines elements from several coveted AJ-1 colorways, like the Black Toe and the Grey Fog, built over a white leather upper with a black wraparound swoosh and Bleached Coral accents on the branding and insoles.

It’s like a greatest hits package of Jordan colorways, it’s not a classic but every element is a hit.

The Nike Air Jordan 1 Bleached Coral is set to drop on July 2nd for a retail price of $170. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

Nike Air Jordan 1 Low Bleached Coral

I’m not entirely sure why the low-top version of the Bleached Coral utilizes the coral accents on the outside of the sneaker, while the high-top keeps it hidden, but the low features a much better design, that’s for sure. Featuring a cracked leather upper with suede accents and coral accents on the toe box, heel, insole, and branding, the Bleached Coral Low features a weathered aesthetic and a brighter color palette that jumps out at you and makes the high-top version look bland in comparison.

It’s the one instance where the low-top version of an AJ-1 is the superior choice.

The Nike Air Jordan 1 Low Bleached Coral is set to drop on July 2nd for a retail price of $130. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app or aftermarket sites like Flight Club.

New Balance 990v3 Made in USA Moonbeam Macadamia Nut

New Balance is killing it, with the Made in USA imprint of the brand, every time NB drops a new colorway — and compared to Nike, that’s not that often — it’s a must-cop, this week’s Moonbeam Macadamia Nut 990v3 is no exception.

Featuring a mixed hairy suede, pig suede, and mesh upper in an understated but elegant grey colorway, the 990vs sports an ENCAP midsole, a synthetic suede sockliner, and subtle reflective accents outlining the branding.

The New Balance 990v3 Made in USA Moonbeam Macadamia Nut is set to drop on June 30th for a retail price of $199.99. Pick up a pair at New Balance.

New Balance 550 Summer Colorway Pack

The 550, which was brought back by Aime Leon Dore’s fantastic New Balance collaborations, is my favorite NB silhouette, hands down, so I’m feeling a little spoiled with this four-colorway summer pack that drops on Friday. Each of the colorways in this set are built upon a leather upper with color coming by way of the paneling and accent work. The Sea Salt offers a monochromatic white look, the Au Lait added splashes of light brown, the Castle Rock offers a colder take with tones of grey throughout, and the Black Sea Salt is a simple color inverse of the white model.

The New Balance Sea Salt, AuLait, Castlerock, and Black Sea Salt are set to drop on July 1st for a retail price of $109.99. Pick up a pair at the New Balance.

Chris Boucher has carved out a nice role with the Toronto Raptors over the last few years. After breaking into the league as a member of the Golden State Warriors, Boucher joined as a raw-but-interesting member of the roster that brought a championship to Toronto and has turned into an important member of the Raptors’ frontcourt rotation, a long and rangy defender who is able to hit shots on the other end of the floor.

Boucher was slated to hit unrestricted free agency this summer, but within an hour of players and teams being able to come to terms on contracts, the Raptors made it a point to keep him around. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Toronto came to terms on an extension with Boucher that will keep him north of the border for the next three years for $35.25 million over the life of the deal.

There’s no word on whether or not the entire deal is guaranteed or if there are any team or player options. Boucher appeared in 80 games for the Raptors last season and earned a spot in the starting lineup in nine of them. In 21.1 minutes per game, Boucher scored 9.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks while shooting 46.4 percent from the field and 29.7 percent from three.

For years, Joe Ingles was one of the steady hands for the Utah Jazz, providing three-point shooting and secondary ball-handling on the wing for the perennial playoff squad. Last year, though, Ingles was dealt at the deadline after suffering a torn ACL, as Utah sent him to Portland where he rehabbed in an effort to get another piece to help their playoff chances immediately.

As Ingles prepares for a return to the court next season, he will join a different playoff contender, this time venturing East to Milwaukee where he will join the Bucks on a one-year deal worth $6.5 million (the taxpayer mid-level) as was made public by the most reliable of sources: his wife, Renae.

Ingles averaged 7.2 points, 3.5 assists, and 2.9 rebounds on 40.4/34.7/77.3 shooting splits in 45 games prior to his injury in Utah last season, and given that he suffered the injury on January 30, one would expect he won’t play for the Bucks until close to the midseason mark, if not wait until after the All-Star break.

It’s a strong fit between player and team, as the Bucks are not in particular need of Ingles’ services in the regular season to get themselves in strong playoff position, but as this past postseason showed, are very much in need of another shooter and scoring threat on the wing come playoff time. Ingles figures to provide that and is a bit of insurance for if Grayson Allen once again struggles come playoff time, as the Bucks mostly are running it back after re-signing Bobby Portis, Jevon Carter, and Wesley Matthews.

While free agency and high-profile trade rumors often dominate the news cycle in the NBA world in late June and early July, stars can also impact the landscape by inking lucrative contract extensions with incumbent franchises. Reigning two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic is a prominent example in 2022, agreeing to a gigantic extension with the Nuggets, and Shams Charania of The Athletic now brings word that All-NBA guard Devin Booker will be adding four years and more than $200 million to his contract with the Phoenix Suns.

Booker, who was already signed through the end of the 2023-24 season at nearly $70 million combined, will be under contract through the end of the 2027-28 campaign with this extension. As Charania notes, Booker’s deal is not yet signed, but it makes perfect sense for Phoenix to lengthen the agreement after Booker’s breakout season that netted first team All-NBA honors.

The 25-year-old guard averaged a career-best 26.8 points per game this season, also posting a career high with five rebounds per contest. Booker’s defense has also improved over the course of his career in Phoenix, and the Suns have benefitted greatly from Booker as the franchise centerpiece.

Phoenix’s overall work of the offseason is far from done as the franchise navigates treacherous waters with Deandre Ayton’s looming free agency and other considerations, but Booker is a key domino and he will seemingly be in a Suns uniform for a long time.

Luguentz Dort has been one of the bright spots for the Oklahoma City Thunder over the last few seasons. The former second-round pick has a case for being the team’s second-best player as they have gone through their rebuild behind only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and after hitting restricted free agency this summer, the belief was that the team would take care of him and keep him as part of what is being build in Oklahoma City.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski, Dort didn’t just get taken care of — he got a gigantic payday that will keep him with the franchise for the foreseeable future. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Dort and the Thunder came to terms on a 5-year contract extension that will pay him $87.5 million over the life of the deal.

Dort showed some promise as a rookie, most notably when he scored 30 points in an elimination game between the Thunder and the Houston Rockets, and has seen his role grow with the team over the each of the last two seasons. Last season, Dort put up career-best marks almost across the board, as he started all 51 games in which he appeared and averaged 17.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 32.6 minutes per game.

It doesn’t seem to be the likeliest outcome, but it is possible that Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving remain teammates outside of Brooklyn.

On ESPN’s free agency special, Brian Windhorst said that it’s “been floated” that other teams think it’s possible that the Los Angeles Lakers would “potentially have a package” to acquire both. He also added that’s there’s not enough information to really know if this deal has any legs. That seemingly ended Richard Jefferson, with Jefferson saying “I will retire from this show if KD, and Kyrie, and Bron are in L.A.” When asked what he’d do if he retired from TV, he said he’d become a referee.

A Lakers trade for both Durant and Irving would have to be seismic. It would certainly have to involve Russell Westbrook, but maybe also involve Anthony Davis for salary purposes. And would the Nets even want Westbrook? Would a third team need to get involved? And, on top of that, how would the sides even decide who has to send picks one way or the other?

Jefferson’s reaction here is frankly the right one. This is so implausible that it’s a NBA 2K trade more than it is something grounded in reality. To pull it off would be so complicated and convoluted to pull off that it almost rules it out from happening. Even if it makes sense for the Lakers to maybe explore it and go all-in on a title chase while they still have LeBron James, pulling out a deal to get both is just crazy, crazy enough to maybe make Jefferson retire from his ESPN gig if it were to happen.

Bobby Portis became an immediate fan favorite in Milwaukee during the Bucks championship season, and cemented his status as a beloved figure with the franchise when he took a two-year deal worth just over $8 million to come back last summer.

That deal was a precursor to this summer when the Bucks could go over the cap to retain him using his early Bird rights, as Portis opted out of his player option for next season and quickly agreed to return to Milwaukee on a 4-year, $49 million contract when free agency opened.

This was always the expectation for the Bucks, and they’ve now accomplished their top priority on their free agency check list. Portis averaged 14.6 points and 9.1 rebounds per game last season, taking on a much larger role with Brook Lopez hurt most of the year, and maintained strong efficiency in an expanded role, with a 47.9/39.3/75.2 shooting split in the 2021-22 season. The Bucks figure to mostly run things back, with some minor shifts via minimum deals, but it’s hard to blame them given their success the past two seasons — and how close they were to beating the Celtics even without Khris Middleton.

Portis returning was the first step and now he is handsomely rewarded for his loyalty and performance the past two seasons.

There aren’t many backup point guards who provide the steadiness that Tyus Jones brings the Memphis Grizzlies. Throughout his NBA career — whether it has been as a member of the Grizzlies or the Houston Rockets — Jones has been one of the league’s best backup options, and there was a belief that he might leave the Grizzlies as a free agent this summer in search of a starting gig.

Shortly after the free agency period opened on Thursday afternoon, Memphis got some good news about the future of their backcourt and their highly-regarded bench lineups: Jones has decided to stick around. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Jones and the team have come to terms on a 2-year contract extension that will pay him $30 million.

Jones was excellent during the 2021-22 campaign last season whenever Ja Morant was not able to play, whether that was because he was resting during a game or had to sit out altogether. Now, the Grizzlies will not have to worry about figuring out what they’re going to do when Morant is off the floor going forward, because the former Duke standout is going to be in town for the next few seasons.

Jones averaged 8.7 points, 4.4 assists, and 2.4 rebounds on 45.1/39.0/81.8 shooting splits in 73 games with the Grizzlies last season.

Mo Bamba entered the 2022 offseason a restricted free agent, and was one of the more interesting guys on the market. The No. 6 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft played the best basketball of his young career during the 2021-22 campaign for the Orlando Magic, and this summer, the 24-year-old big man hit free agency.

Whether the Magic opted to keep him around or another team decided to scoop him up, Bamba looked primed to build on what he did last year and take another step towards his considerable potential. After the Magic declined to extend the qualifying offer to Bamba, there were rumblings he might have interest from other teams on the unrestricted market, but it seems that was simply the Magic clearing the way for them to make a deal with the young center as soon as free agency opened, re-signing him on a two-year, $21 million deal.

After injuries and a particularly nasty bout with COVID impacted Bamba his first three seasons, the former Texas Longhorn played more than ever during the 2021-22 campaign and saw himself put up a career year. Bamba appeared in 71 games for the Magic with 69 of them coming as a member of the starting lineup. He averaged 10.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in 25.7 minutes per game while hitting 38.1 percent of his attempts from behind the three-point line.